Some resources for antiracism and inclusivity in Classics
There are many efforts under way across the field of Classics to confront the longtime and damaging exclusion of underrepresented groups, especially Black and other people of color, from the field. The department is eager to support all our students and to be part of the long-overdue remedy for historical wrongs. We list here some resources that can help our students pursue their goals, and that can help unite our entire community in a commitment to justice and principled scholarship.
As this work and the conversations about it are ongoing, this is only a starting point, but every site listed here (and described using the organizers’ own words) points to further resources. We welcome suggestions for additions (write to classics@wustl.edu).
Professional development resources:
The Mountaintop Coalition, a group of students and scholars of the ancient Mediterranean world and its reception with a shared interest in advancing the professional goals of Classicists who identify as members of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in the field.
Classics and Social Justice, a group of scholars creating a dialogue about how Classicists and their students are using Classics, texts, traditions, and receptions, to address problems of inequality.
A collection of antiracism resources from the Society for Classical Studies, the principal professional organization for classicists across North America.
The Multiculturalism, Race & Ethnicity in Classics Consortium affiliated with the Society for Classical Studies.
Two groups affiliated with the Society for Classical Studies who ally themselves with antiracist efforts in the field: the Lambda Classical Caucus and the Women's Classical Caucus.
A fuller list of organizations that support diversity and inclusion in Classics is maintained on the Mountaintop Coalition’s page.
Reading and reflection:
Eidolon, an online publication with the slogan “Classics without fragility.” Essays and posts that open the discipline up to voices of all kinds at all levels, and that concern the ancient and modern world, pedagogy, pop culture, “culture only classicists care about,” issues in the field, and occasional whimsy.
Pharos: Doing Justice to the Classics, a collaborative project that documents and critiques misappropriations of Classics by contemporary hate groups.
Classics at the Intersections, one Classics professor’s blog about ancient Greek and Roman culture and contemporary America.
Eos, a group that studies Africana receptions of ancient Greece and Rome.
Financial support:
The Department of Classics awards funds for study and travel every year, to both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as pointing students toward awards available from other sources, in an effort to make enriching travel and study available to all who seek it. The Department of Classics also funds living expenses for MA students through a combination of awards and wages, on the grounds that MA programs are a vital channel for people from diverse backgrounds to enter the field and pursue careers in teaching, research, and related areas. Resources and departmental funding for study and travel, as well as scholarships, are not restricted based on race, ethnicity, sex, etc.
Resources at Washington University:
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion supports and advocates for undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students from underrepresented and/or marginalized populations, collaborates with campus and community partners, and promotes dialogue and social change to cultivate and foster a supportive campus climate for students of all backgrounds, cultures, and identities.
Washington University in St. Louis supports the rights of enrolled students to a full and equal educational opportunity and, in compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, is committed to reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. Disabled students for whom accommodations may be necessary must be registered with, and provide their instructors official notification through, WUSTL’s Disability Resources. For more information contact Disability Resources at 314.935.5970 or disabilityresources@wustl.edu.
The University has a process through which students, faculty, staff, and community members who have experienced or witnessed incidents of bias, prejudice, or discrimination against a student can report their experiences to the University’s Bias Report and Support System (BRSS) team.